6 août 2018

Samitum-woven silk with confronted deer in medallions, Central Asia, 7th-8th century. H: 105; W: 46 cm. Inv. no. 4/2005. © The David Collection. This magnificent textile with confronted deer placed on winged palmettes in medallions was probably made in Sogdiana, the area north and east of the Amu Darya (Oxus) River. The motif comes from Sasanian Iran, but the rendition of this piece is stiffer than that of its models. Medallion motifs with single or confronted figures are also known from Byzantium (and China), and survived in the... [Lire la suite]

Tapestry with horseman, dyed wool and undyed linen, Egypt (Coptic), 7th century. Diam: 20 cm. Inv. no. 3/2006. © The David Collection. A dry climate has preserved large numbers of colorful tapestries that were produced in Egypt by Coptic Christians both before and after the Muslim conquest in 641. Their decoration first and foremost reflects the motifs of Late Antiquity, but also the textiles that were woven by the Byzantines, who had ruled Egypt for periods. The use of the tapestry or kilim techniques and wool and linen as... [Lire la suite]

Fragment of a warp-faced tabby with ovals, silk, Northern China, 5th-6th century. H: 11.7; L: 50 cm. Inv. no. 16/2005. © The David Collection. The decoration on this fragment consists of a latticework that forms ovals. The ovals contain various motifs that are mirror images on the longitudinal axis: two camels with camel drivers, two pairs of lions (?), two elephants, and two pagodas with a person or an idol. The camel driver is especially interesting in our context. Between him and the camel is the Chinese character huu,... [Lire la suite]

Gold solidus struck by the Emperor Heraclius, Constantinople, 640 or 641. Diam: 1.95 cm. Inv. no. C 163. © The David Collection. The Emperor Heraclius, who is shown on this gold coin together with his sons Heraclius Constantine and Heraklonas, ruled the Byzantine Empire between 610 and 641.   Through a series of campaigns, Heraclius vanquished the Sasanians, who had penetrated far into his realm, but in turn was defeated by the new power – the Muslim Arabs – in the battle of Yarmuk in 636. This led to the loss of... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3614. A fine anhua-decorated white bowl, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 10.8 cm., 4 1/4  in. Estimate 220,000 — 280,000 HKD. Lot sold 812,500 HKD. Photo Sotheby’s delicately potted with deep rounded sides rising from a short straight foot to an everted mouthrim, decorated around the sides in anhua with a stylised leafy lotus scroll issuing large lotus blossoms and further floral blooms, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3613. A fine copper-red glazed meiping, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 29.2 cm., 11 1/2  in. Estimate 900,000 — 1,200,000 HKD. Lot sold 1,240,000 HKD. Photo: Sotheby's.   robustly potted with a tapered body sweeping up to broad shoulders, all surmounted by a waisted neck and a slightly flared lipped rim, the exterior applied overall with a lustrous deep red glaze thinning at the mouth, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character seal mark. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3711. A fine copper-red glazed waterpot, Mark and Period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 6.2 cm., 2 3/8  in. Estimate 400,000 — 600,000 HKD. Lot sold  1,840,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby’s well potted with an ovoid body tapering from a short foot, the exterior covered with an even copper-red glaze, the base inscribed in underglaze blue with a six-character reign mark within a double circle. Exhibited: Monochrome Ceramics of the Ming and Ch’ing Dynasties, Min Chiu Society at the Hong... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3607. A fine guan-type bottle vase, Seal mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795); 21cm., 8 1/4  in. Estimate 1,000,000 — 1,500,000 HKD. Lot sold  2,320,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby’s the tapering ovoid body rising from a short spreading foot to a tall narrow neck with an everted dished rim, covered overall with a soft bluish-grey glaze suffused with fine crackles, the base inscribed with a six-character seal mark in underglaze blue. Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 27th April 1993,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3630. A small doucai ‘Bamboo’ wine cup, Mark and Period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 6.5 cm.,  2 1/2  in. Estimate 1,000,000 — 1,500,000 HKD. Lot sold  2,320,000 HKD. Photo Sotheby’s delicately potted with deep rounded sides rising from a short straight foot, the exterior intricately enamelled with a continuous scene of clusters of pale apple-green bamboo leaves issuing from pale lime-green bamboo shoots, some leaves highlighted at the tip with a faint brown accent, all the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1890. An octagonal jadeite plaque of vivid emerald green colour and very good translucency and diamond ring. Estimate HK$650,000 - HKD 950,000 (US$80,000-120,000). Price realised HKD 18,040,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2015. Set with an octagonal jadeite plaque of vivid emerald green colour and very good translucency, to the baguette and single-cut diamond shoulders, mounted in 18k white gold, plaque approximately 24.8 x 16.7 x 6.8 mm, ring size 6¼  Accompanied by report no. KJ89573... [Lire la suite]